Goodbye to 2009

The first decade of the twenty-first century is coming to an end. I remember when we left the twentieth century. It seems like only yesterday. I know that is an old phrase, but it is so true. These last ten years have gone by like a flash. When I look back I must say I actually managed to achieve a lot when it comes to my writing. I published my first story 'The Anniversary Gift' in 2005 (Sweet Revenge by Midnight Showcase) and my first book 'The Xandra, Daughter of the Dark' in 2006.
To date I've published 7 novels, 5 novellas, 1 short-story-collection (Tapestry of Dreams) and 5 short stories in various digests.
I also sold this year a two-book novel 'Stars in Chains' to MSFiction, publishing date not yet known.
In addition to the published ones I wrote a 180,000 word contemporary novel 'Tarnished Valor'. I'm still looking for a publisher (Print publisher) for that novel. Long novels like that are hard to sell as ebooks, unless I break it into two-volumes, which might eventually happen.
My new novel 'Epsilon' is coming along quite nicely. I managed to write some more since last I posted. I'm at 110,000 words right now. I will have to make two books out of that one as well. By the time I'm finished I will probably pass the 130,000 word mark.
I've proved to myself that I can accomplish a lot if I stick to it and not listen to other people who think it is a waste of time to pursue something that does not produce any money. They don't understand that success is not measured by the amount of money you get for your efforts. Success to me is anything I start and finish. If I can make a few people happy with what I write then I have achieved what I set out to do...share my creative dreams with others.
Some people golf, some play hockey, some people just watch sports played by others, some play soccer, some play football, or ride bicycles. There are others who paint, take pictures with their cameras, play an instrument, read books, etc. I write. It is as simple as that. Writing my stories takes me away from every-day-life into the world of the imagination where, no matter how many problems the heroes encounter, eventually everything always turns out right. Of course, that is up to me. I control what happens. (That's what you think, buddy. He...he...he). Sorry about that; just one of my characters popping in to undermine my wonderful essay.
I hope you all have a great year-end and a successful 2010.
Happy New Year.

Merry Christmas

Well, it's Christmas again. It seems this year just zoomed by. My two-book novel 'Stars in Chains' was accepted by MSFicion, so far I don't know when it will be published. I checked Fictionwise last night and discovered that 'Orion, Symbiont of Passion' has reached number 6 position in sales. I didn't even know it was already available at Fictionwise. It is exciting in a way, but the sales amount to so little money it is hardly worth it. So anyone wanting to buy it, please go to the MSFiction site. At least from those sales I profit a little. Fortunately, I don't depend on that income, otherwise I'd be standing in the 'Soupkitchen-line'.
On some other news. I passed another milestone. I'm at 102,000 words with my novel Epsilon. I hope to finish it early in the new year.
I'm looking forward to working again on my other novel, as yet no title, except for 'Book Four in the Xandra series'. As I mentioned before, so far I've written about 20,000 words; just the beginning.
I hope everyone reading this has a Merry Christmas and spends it with family and people they love. I know it is a Christian celebration, but the message it carries applies to everyone. Peace on Earth and Good Will to Man. Wouldn't it be nice if instead of all the hate that exists on our planet we could all get along, no matter what we believe, no matter the name of the god we pray to?
Unfortunately, Christmas has been so commercialized that its real meaning seems to have been forgotten. Perhaps we can all take a few moments tonight and tomorrow to reflect on what Christmas is really about. To reach out and embrace each other, to see the other person as just another human being and forget about religion, skin color, honor, patriotism, duty, greed, and all those other things that create the problems we are facing every day.
Merry Christmas.

Hi

Welcome visitors from Love Romance Cafe. I promised you a free copy of 'Orion, the Hunt' just for visiting my blog. Just send me an email hegro@shaw.ca and mention your visit. Please, feel free to check out my books on my Website 'Herbert's World'. Perhaps you'll see something you like. Should you, by chance, already have 'Orion, the Hunt', then ask me for a free download of one of my other books. If you are a visitor who just stumbled across my blog, the offer stands also for you.
Hope to hear from you.

Right now I am busy writing my Science Fiction novel 'Epsilon'. I just crossed the 87,000 word barrier (not a special barrier. I just call it that for lack of another word). There is still much more to write until I'm finished. I don't know yet how I will end the novel, it is still a secret, even for me. That's the fun of writing. I never really know where the story will take me. I have ideas in my head, but they are still vague. All I know is that in the end everything will come together. It always does.
With Christmas shopping and other things to do, I don't write as much as I would like to, so the story is moving slowly ahead, but that also gives me time to reflect on it and fix some inconsistencies that sometimes happen.